Michael Feldman wrote:

> > See:
> >
> >       http://www.winternet.com/~stachour/ada/GPS-Ada.html
> >
> > -- Karl --
> >
> Thanks for the tip; I've seen this article before and I think it's
> in the "success story" lists.
>
> This 1995 piece by Pauk Pukite is interesting and tantalizing but
> not quite clear on the state of Ada in commercially sold GPS boxes.
> Here is the relevant paragraph:
>
> "Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa invented and developed a GPS
> satellite communications board with software written in Ada in the
> mid-1980's. They have installed the board in commercial airplanes,
> trains, as
> well as a demonstration van to show-off the technology to auto makers.
> In
> 1991, the Ada-run NavCore V GPS modules were sold to OEM manufacturers
>
> for around $450. At the time, it was the world's smallest commercial
> 5-channel GPS module, providing position, velocity, and time data. The
>
> target, the Advanced Architecture Microprocessor II (AAMPS2) includes
> 25,000 lines of Ada code. The market for the 2.5" x 5" module includes
>
> navigational systems for airplanes, commercial fishing boats, trains,
> yachts,
> etc."
>
> Note: much is said about the potential market, and how R-C installed
> the board in various vehicles to show it off, etc., but it is
> impossible to determine from this paragraph whether _indeed_ the
> currently fielded, commercial, mass-produced GPS boxes, such as one
> finds increasingly in Hertz and Avis rental cars, have "Ada inside."
>
> The question remains open.
>
> Is anyone out there close enough to this stuff to know
> for sure how to answer it?

I am.  Yes, these units have Ada code in them if they are the Navcore
Vs.   Ada code that I wrote is in them.  Is this close enough?

Scott Carpenter, Staff Computer Scientist
Rockwell Collins, Inc.